Learning Tig first

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Has anyone just learned on tig first?  I am torn between getting a mig or tig.  I'd rather just go ahead and spend the money for tig now but I wonder if it will be hard to learn as your first experience with welding.thanks
Reply:Go for the TIG, you will be a better welder in the long run.I learned on acet. torch.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Depends on what you are looking to do. Can you be a bit more specific on what it is you're trying to accomplish? What is it you see yourself having a need to weld? Learning one over the other will not effect your ability to learn another process at a later date. My answer might be a bit different if you were asking about learning a process within a process as in " I want to learn MIG, should I start with solid wire or cored, dual shield or inner shield?" Then I may have a suggestion as to what would be easier to learn with. At this point it is based more on application.Last edited by lorenzo; 07-22-2007 at 10:59 AM._________________Chris
Reply:If you can see yourself buying a tig in the future then go for it.  What exactly will you be looking to weld.  Tig can be a little more difficult than other processes, but since you are just starting out, I don't think you would find it any more difficult than stick or o/a.  Keep in mind that with a tig you will also be able to stick weld so you will get double duty out of the machine.  As David stated you will be better off in the long run for starting with tig.  The key is to keep practicing at it.    ~JacksonLast edited by Hammack_Welding; 07-22-2007 at 11:09 AM.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:If you're going to do much metal work sooner or later you're going to need  heat or cut something. Why not get an oxy/acetylene torch first. There's no reason you can't go straight to tig but it's going to be easier to learn to tig if you can gas weld before hand.
Reply:Really nothing you learn from mig will transfer to tig, or help you learn tig, so if you have the bucks and the motivation go straight to tig. Really, it is NOT that hard.- John
Reply:I feel the best teacher is o/a because of learning puddle control....the only thing that comes close to that is tig. Then teach yourself stick.Mig is gravy then. I knew o/a and stick but lied that I knew mig and learned it while taking the test!! Got the job. Not saying that's the way to get a job I just needed one and I thot welding with one of those newfangled wire welders would be really cool.Miller Dynasty 700Miller 350P with Aluma-pro push-pullMiller 280 Dynasty with expansion card Dynasty 200 DXMigMax 215 Enuff power and hand tools to create one of anything..... but mass produce nothing!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by FusionKingI feel the best teacher is o/a because of learning puddle control....the only thing that comes close to that is tig. .
Reply:I'd lean towards a Tig to start with.You get the option of Stick and Tig to learn on.You will be limited to mild steel and stainless on the cheaper ones unless you lash out for an AC unit .With a Tig machine you also have the option of fusing , yes Mig is quicker and usually dollar for dollar you have a higher sectional capacity, but with all welding it is limited by the size of machine  (read budget!) Tig welds can be a lot better looking IMHO.
Reply:The one caveat that I would add, is consider what you are going to be working on. If you have a particular project that involves sheet metal, like say patching holes in the floor of a car, then MIG can't be beat, in my opinion.But if you are just going to fart around with various projects, tig will be more fun for you.- John
Reply:thanks for all the responses....mostly it will be for car work, I would like to get to a point where I can fab up my own turbo exhaust pipes and eventually a roll cage etc.  so we are talking like 304 SS 2"-3" pipe etcI'll probably get a cheaper tig setup, for now, I was thinking the econotig.....I think that would be plenty for me for a few years